Heat engine



March 3911921, 1 613319? R. W. DAVENPORT HEAT ENGINE Original Filed April 25. 1924 INVENTOQ assed Mar. 1, 1927.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BANSOM W. DAVENPORT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSTGNOR TO CHICAGO PNEU- MATIC TOOL COMPANY, OF NEW YORKQN. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HEAT ENGINE.

Original application filed April 25, 1924, Serial No. 708,936. Divided and this application filed July 24,

This invention relates to improvements in heat enginesand is a division of my copending application Serial No. 7 08,936, filed April 25, 1924. The present invention is particularly adapted to employ in certain thermodynamic operations the novel working substance described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 603,998 filed November 29,1922; and for performing upon said novel working fluid such heat transforming operations as are described and claimed in my application Serial No. 570,015, filed June 21, 1922, for which a substitute application now copending, namely Serial No. 15,172, Was filed larch 12, 1925. The present and the aforesaid inventions constitute a closely related series.

Beside the above mentioned objects, the

present invention provides means for utilizing the peculiar advantages inherent in the aforesaid inventions and applying them to the practical cooling of refrigerators. Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

All refrigerating apparatus of the compression type hitherto known or used falls into one of two perfectly distinct and sepa rate classes, i. e., the vapor-compression class or compressor-condenser-expander type, and the cold air'type or compressor-cooler-expansion motor class. This separation is but the natural result of the essential and basic differences between the liquid-vapor refrigerants used in the former, and the ideal gas refrigerants used in the latter class of apparatus. vapor-compression type of heat engine the refrigerating effect is obtained, not b expansion, but by vaporization of liquid at constant temperature and pressure, which liquid is fed as required and without expansion, i. e. without an increase in its volume, through a throttle valve loosely called the expansion valve, into a so-called expansion coil where-the liquid does not expand but evaporates at constant .volume and pressure, whereas in the cold-air machine the entire refrigerating effect is obtained by expanding air or other gas (not vapor) with an increase in its volume, but obviously without evaporation in an expansion motor.

My improved heat engine differs from both the described types of heat engines in that I employ both an expansion device It is emphasized that in the- Serial No. 45,905.

and a boiler or vaporizing element in novel combination with a compressor and-a condenser,in that I employ as a working substance a liquid and a gas substantially inert to and insoluble in the liquid, and in other respects hereinafter set forth as depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one form of my apparatus showing the refrigerator in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of those parts of the apparatuswithin the refrigerator proper, the refrigerator'being shown in section.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration the electric motor 18 is-arranged to drive compressor 19 and expansion engine 20, and condenser 21 is connected to the outlet of the compressor and the intake of the engine through the separator 22, as shown. The evaporator tank 28 is supplied with the liquid component of the refrigerant through trap 24 and coil 25, from separator '22 by pipe '26, and the vapor-gas component is supplied to it from the discharge port of the engine 20 by the pipe 27. The top header 29' of the evaporator is connected to the intake of the compressor by pipe 30, thus completing the circuit. The tubes 23 (Fig. 2) connect'the upper and lower headers of the evaporator, the whole formin the well-known Emulseur-evaporator w ich I find well adapted to my purposes.

shown, when motor 18 is started, the vaporgas is compressed in 19, cooled in 21, the condensate is separated in 22, and the vaporgas passes into the expansion engine and helps drive the compressor while expanding down'to a lower pressure. For this expansion some heat is taken from the vaporgas itself and some from the cylinder of the engine 20. This cylinder being in thermal contact with the coil 25 and the whole insulated, as shown, both the vapor-gas discharged through pipe 27 into 28 and the liquid fed to 28 through pipe 26 and trap 24 are cooled below the condenser temperature before entering the refrigerator, and the heat energy represented in this cooling, as well as the availability of the higher pressure of the vapor-gas are here turned to useful account outside the refrigerator. The rapo1r-oas in pipe 22'? still under pressure expands into chamber 28 cz'lusingthe liquid therein to bubble up through the tubes 23.

and the liberated vapor and w per-air passes back to the intake ot the compressor through pipe 80.

It is to be understood that my expander, insluul oi producing the entire refrigeration as would he lllo case in the old type oi expansion machines, is employed in my novel combination with the object of prccooling the refrigerant from the relal'ir'clv high teni fierature al which it leaves the condenser toward the lower temperature main lained in the refrigerator by the evaporation oi liquid in the boiler Q icl-2l, and ot' transforming the heat represented by this temperature dillerencc into lrinetic energy.

ll liile but one foriuot the invention has been herein shown and described it to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific detailsttheia iit but covers all changes, ada iitalions, and inoi'liliiuitions "Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A heat engine adapted to the circula lion of a Working substance having liquid and gaseous components eon'iprising a coinpressor, a condenser, an expansion device in llyllflllllc relation with said con'ipressor, a boiler lor containing the liquid componentol the refrigerant, and pipes interconnecting said elements arranged to conduct the gaseous component of the refrigerant from said condenser to said expansion device and thence to said boiler beneath the level of the. liquid refrigerant therein.

2. A heat engine adapted. to the circulation of a working substance having liquid and gaseous components comprising a coinpressor, a condenser, an expansion device in dynamic relation with said compressor, a boiler, a trap into which said condenser discharges, means conducting the liquid component of the refrigerant from said trap to said boiler, and means conducting the gaseous component of the refrigerant from said trap to said expansion device and thence to the lower portion of said boiler.

o. A heat engine adapted to the circulation of a Working substance havinsr expansible and non-cxpansiblc components conr prising a compressor, a condenser and a boiler, and means for expanding said expansible component from ordinary condenser pressure so as to extract heat from said nonexpansible component.

l. A heat engine adapted to the circulation of a Working substance having expain sible and noirex'pansible components conr prising a compressor, a condenser and a boiler, and means for expanding; said expan sible component in successive stages in ther- Ilhtl Lil pansible component in thermal contact Withsaid non-cxpansiblc couqiiouent so as to on lract heat 'ljrolu the latter.

' l3. i l. heal engine adapted lo the circulation of a working substance baring liquid and gaseous components coi'nj .)1'isin;;; a coin-- pressor, a condenser, an impandcr and a boiler, and means conducting the liquid and gaseous Cl'lll'lPOllBlllS from said condenser separately to said lioilc the puiseous. component being; directed throuah said on pander.

'i". ll heat ei'lsgine adapted to the circular tion ot a working substance having liquid and gaseous components col'nprising a compressor, a. condenser and a. boiler means conducting the liquid and gaseous components :lroni said condenser separately to said boiler, and means for partiallyexpanding; said ggltlseous cou'iponent prior to its admis sion to said boiler.

ti. i l. heat engine adapted to the circulation ot a working substance harinp liquid and gaseous components compri compressor, a condenser and a boiler, being arranged to contain a bod oil said liquid, and meansfltor conducting the liquid and gaseous components of the circulated Working substance from said condenser separately to said boiler, the gaseous component being expanded into the lmrer part of said boiler so as to enter the same bel'ieath the level of the body of liquid that in.

9. A heat engine adapted to the circulation of a working substance having liquid and gaseous components comprising, a COII'lpressor, a condenser and a boiler, said boiler being arranged to contain a bocl of said liquid, means for conducting the liquid and gaseous components of the circulated work-- ing substance from said condenser scparatel to said boiler, the gaseous component being; admitted to said boiler, adjacent, the bottom thereof so as to enter beneath the level of: the body of liquid. therein, and means for partially expanding said gaseous component prior to its admission to said boiler.

10. i l heat engine adapted to the circular tion of a Working substance having liquid and oaseous components comprising a coinpresson, a condenser and a boiler, said boiler being arranged to contain a body, of said liquid, moans tor conducting the liquid and gaseous components 01'' the eirculatciil Worlo it'll d non said boiler 1.

till

lfdl) ing substance from said condenser separately to said boiler, the gaseous component being admitted to said boilenadjacent the bottom thereof so as to enter beneath the level of the body of liquid therein, and an expansion engine in dynamic relation with said compressor for utilizing a portion of the pressure of said gaseous component prior to its admission to said boiler.

11. Refrigerating apparatus utilizing as a refrigerant a physical mixture of a liquid and a gas comprising a compressor, a con denser, and an evaporator for containing a body of said liquid,,said compressor being arranged to Withdraw mingled gas andvapor of'said liquidfrom said evaporator and discharge the same into said condenser, means for conducting the condensed and the non-condensable products of said condenser separately to said evaporator and means acted on by said non-condensable product for extracting heat from said condensed product.

12. Refrigerating apparatus utilizing as a refrigerant a physical mixture of a liquid and a gas comprising a compressor, a condenser, and' an evaporator for containing a body of said liquid, said compressor being arranged to Withdraw mingled gas and vapor of said liquid from said evaporator and discharge the same into said condenser, means for conducting the liquid and gaseous prodnets of said condenser separately to said evaporator, and means for pre-cool-ing'said I 'va'por of said liquidgaseousproduct by expanslon prior to its admission to said evaporator; i V

13. Refrigerating apparatus utilizingas a refrigerant a physi cal mixture'of a-li'quid and a .gas comprising a compressor,' a condenser, and .an evaporator for containing .a body of said liquid, said compressor-be ng arranged to i withdrawn mingled gas.- and from s'aid'aevanorator and discharge the same into, said jao a nse means for conducting the;condensed and the non-condensable products oflsaidlconrlen's'e'rseparately to' said ,evaporator ,-'and means. utilizing" expansion of said non-condensable- I! product for precooling. 'both LsaidzProdflpts prior to their admission to ;sa1d-' .evapo rator 14. Refrigerating a par-atus utiliz n-g'asa refrigerant a physica mixture-of a'liquid and a; gas comprising a compressor; a' condenser, and an evaporator for containing a body of said liquld, "sald com ressort being arranged to Withdraw "inin ed gas-and.

vapor of said liquid fro'r'n" said evaporator and discharge the same intolsa'id condenser, means for conducting the liquidand-gaseous products of said condenser separatelyto said -evaporator, means for extracting heat 'from said liquid product by expansion of said gaseous product, and means for controlling the level of said'liquid in said evaporator.

15. Refrigerating apparatus utilizing as a charges, means' conducting the liquid prod-' not: of said condenser to saidevaporator, means for conducting the gaseous product of said condenser in a separate path into said evaporator beneath the level of said body, and an expansion device acted upon by said gaseous product to precool the same prior to its admission to said evaporator.

l6. Refrigerating apparatus utilizing as a refrigerant a physical mixture of a liquid and a gas substantially insoluble in the liquid comprising an evaporator for containing a body of said liquid, a compressor connected to the upper portion of said evaporator, a condenser into which said compressor discharges, a trap separating the discharge of said condenser into its liquid said device and thence into said evaporator adjacent the bottom thereof.

17. Refrigerating apparatus utilizing as a refrigerant a physical mixture of a liquid and a gas substantially insoluble in the liq uid comprising an'evaporator for containing a body of saidliquid, a compressor con-.

nected to the upper portion of said evaporator, a condenser into which said compressor discharges, a trap separating the discharge of said condenser into its liquid and gaseous components, a pipe conducting theliquid from said trap to said evaporator, an expansion engine, and -means passing said gaseous component through saidexpansion engine and thence into said evaporator adjacent the bottom thereof, said pipe being disposed in thermal contact with said engine thereby to precool the liquid delivered to saidevaporator.

18. Refrigerating apparatus utilizing as a refrigerant a physical mixture of a liquid and a gassubstantially insoluble in the liq uid comprising a refrigerator, an evaporator therein for containing a body of said liquid, a compressor connected to the upper portion of said evaporator,a condenser into which said compressor discharges, a trap separating the discharge of'said condenser into its liquid and gaseous components, a pipe conducting the liquid froni said trap to said evaporator, an expansion engine in dynamic relat on wlth said compressorand having 1ts cylinder disposedin an insulated compartment, means passing said gaseous component from said trap through said engine to precool the same and thence conducting the same into said evaporator adjacent the bottom thereof, said pipe being oeiled about the cylinder of said engine to precool the liquid passing theretln'ongh.

19. A heat engine adapted tothe circulation of it Working substance having liquid and gaseous components comprising a COII1 pressor, a condenser and :1 boiler, and means conducting the liquid and gaseous components from said condenser separately to said boiler.

June, 1925.

boiler, sndnieans conducting the liquid and gaseous components from said condenser separately to said boiler, said gaseous component passing to said boiler through 'said expander.

Signed: by me at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, this 24th day oi RANSOM W. DAVENPORT. 

